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In
1962, Congress passed a bill requiring all urban areas containing more than
50,000 people to begin conducting "continuing, comprehensive,
cooperative" transportation planning processes. A detailed study
of the region's transportation needs was conducted between 1965 and 1968 and
a plan was developed. It is this plan on which the Charleston Area
Transportation Study (CHATS) is based.
In
1977, Governor James Edwards appointed the BCD Council of Governments to
perform the planning and programming functions of CHATS, in cooperation with
the State Department of Transportation (SCDOT), the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
CHATS currently serves 800
square miles comprised of the tri-county region's most urbanized areas.
Generally, the study area contains of all the land expected to be urbanized
within the next 20 years. It now consists of portions of all three
counties in the BCD Region. Click
here to download the CHATS Study Area map. This includes:
The SCDOT oversees
all road improvements for the remainder of the region. CHATS is
governed by a 47-member board representing governmental and
transportation-related organizations from throughout its coverage
area. For a complete list of the organizations represented on the
CHATS Policy Committee,
click here.
To download the CHATS Brochure, BCDCOG Transportation Planning and you...click
here.
What does
CHATS do?
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Provides a forum in
which local representatives can cooperatively decide the future of
regional transportation issues.
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Chooses the specific
road and intersection projects, transit facilities and services, and
bicycle and pedestrian facilities that will be funded through the Federal
ISTEA Program.
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Analyzes existing
transportation needs and evaluates them using prescribed formulas.
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Establishes long-range
goals for overall transportation development.
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Coordinates
transportation improvements for modes other than automobiles, such as
bicycle, transit and pedestrian facilities.
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Recruits public
participation in the programming and planning process through
advertisements, news releases and public hearings.
Citizens are encouraged
to take part in the regional transportation planning process. One of
the most direct ways to do so is by participating in any of the CHATS Policy
Committee's several
standing advisory
committees.
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Enhancement Advisory
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Study Team
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SERVICES
